Self-locking hook



March 16, 1954 M. ROBERTS SELF-LOCKING HOOK Filed April 10, 1952INVENTOR.

MALCOLM Poss/P75 Wan Arra Msys Patented Mar. 16, 1954 STATE PAT NT Q F EMB SEEF-LOGKINGYHOOK Malcolm Rob.erts,.Shaker Heights, OhioApplicatiomNpril-lfl, 1952,. Serial No. 558L605- 9. Claims;

This invention'relates to ahookv structure and; more particularly, to ahook" provided with: as. means preventingits accidentali displacement;from a supporting member.

AII-ObjBCl? of the invention is to provide, a.hook: with an improvedmeansfor: preventing accia dental displacement of: the hook from. asup-. porting member which meansis simple. and in: expensiveto-construct and is reliable in: opera-r tiOrl';

Another object of the invention isto provide a hook with an: improvedmeansfor preventing accidental displacement of the hoole from asupporting member; which. means comprises: a multi-arm member pivotally'supported adja cent: the freeend of thehoolr ina-- manner such that? themember may rotatein either direction and is operable at all times byengagementthereof with a supporting member for=the-= hook;

1r furtherobject' of the invention is to pro videa hook with amulti-ar-m; turnstile-type member pivotally supported adjacent theouterend of the hookwith-the spacingbetween adja cent arms of the member"beingsuchthat one: arm is disposed transversely of the hook openingwhenan adjacent arm is substantially aligned? with. the upper" or outerportion of the hook, at means-being; provided: toprevent movement ofsaid" member except when a' rotational force is positivelyappiiecfagainst an: armthere'- of so" that" accidental displacement ofvthe hookfrom asupporting member is' preventedi An additional object ofthe invention is the provision, in a garment hanger, of" an improved 35means for'preventing displacementof the'hanger from a supporting memberwhich means comprises a. turnstile-type member supported for: freerotation at the outer end of the hook and having. the spacing" betweenthe. arms of the member such that one. arm extends transversely of thehook opening when an adjacent arm is substantially" aligned with the"upper orouterportionof thehook, a means being provided; upon? the hookandmember to retain one-arm thereof in substantial alignment with thesaid upper or outer" portion of the hook until the arm extending acrosssaidopening is engaged with an. appreciable force acting in a directionto producerotationof-said member.

The, invention I further: resides: in certain. novel: features of: theconstruction and. combination andiarrangementi ofrpart's of the. device;.andiiuttheir objects: and: advantages; of the; invention; will! beapnarent t those; skilled: in the arts to. which. it. ertains. from the;following; clescrip,

2;- tion of; the: present prefer-red? embodimenlrtherar. Ofg and:certain; modifications, described with;v reference to; the accompanying;dmwing, which;

Fig. 1 is! a side: elevational .viewof: a; garments mangerhook providedjwith the improved; saltlocking meansof: this inventionl andi shown: in:positionom a supporting: member on bar;

Fig; 2 is a sectionalview taken substantiallm urn-the irregular.line:23-Zi of: Eig; 1;;

Fig; 3:.is. a side elevational view; oi. the:.hoolL' body; illustratedin Fig; with thewlocking means; removed;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a modifiedz form; 016 hooleprovided; withthe. novel: locking means of; this; invention;

Eig. 5; is. a. side. elevational View of a further modifiediform of:thezhooln providedzwitha thez ims provedzlockingzmeansof: thisinventiongr. and t Fig; G is airagmentary sectional view takenlsubstantiailyoni the: line. ofi Fig; .5.

The-improved:lockingmeanszofi this invention;fort-preventing;accidental:displacemenizofimhoflki from; atsupportingmember; "may: be: employedi in a variety; of. different:environments: and! with, hooks utfllZedifbIi difi'erentpurposes; Oneiofthe most frequent occasions-ion need of? suclr 8.'I1$ 8X'-.-.:

pedieniz is,. however; in conjunction. with;

ment. hangers since; the latter,. when they arm not; supporting;garments, are: easily: displaced: from the supportingmembersx on; which;they area resting and/or beoomeentangled withleachiother and; with;the.clothinglsupportedt adjacent therea to; thus: causing: delays. in:handling the; gar ments as: wellas; possible. damage to theladzter:Therefore, while. the invention@ is: not. limitedi to: use-with.-garment:hangers-thezprinciplesvthereofr and} the; construction. of the:selfelocking: mechaanism; will be hereinaft.er; described: in; conjuncation; with use: in. garment: hanger hooks in: order to facilitate: an;understanding: oithe utility of; theinvention.

In; the: presently: preferred: form ofi theinvenction;.illustratedinEigs.1- t0;3, the: garment sun-. porting memberor: bar? U]. of a: garmentihangen, which; is: only fragmentarilyshown.is: oi cone ventionalr. shapei and may be; formed: of wood; plasma,-vvire; or arm other suitable: material; attached toor integral with.this; garments sum portin'e bar;- It; at. the: center thereof is: alhookmember? 1;! ,which. is; here: illustrated; as, formed; of plateelikesmaterial such: as sheet'metal; plusetic. orthe. like.- This member hasaacurved pen.- tion I2; provided with; the conventional: sectons-hanedvinnerr surfaceadapted to. engaedazsupeporting member, such asthe rod or bar l3, access being had to this surface through the usualhook opening M.

The opening Id of the hook is relatively large. as in conventionalhooks, and consequently only a partial rotation of the hook upon thesupporting member or bar l3 would result in displacement of the hook andits attached garment hanger therefrom. In order to prevent thisfrequently encountered difiiculty, the outer or upper part I5 of thehook rotatably supports a multi-arm, turnstile-type member l6 by meansof a rivet or the like fastener H which extends through a centralopening of the locking member l6 and an opening adjacent the outer endof the hook.

The member i6 is provided with equally spaced, radially extending armssuch as l8, l9 and 2D. The number of arms on the member l6 may begreater than three but the spacing between the arms should be such thatwhen one of the arms, such as 18, is in substantial alignment with theupper or outer portion l5 of the hook, the next adjacent arm, in aclockwise direction as viewed in the drawings, will extend transverselyof the hook opening I 4, see Fig. 1. It will be evident, therefore, thatone of the arms, such as [9, is always disposed transversely of theopening l4 when the hook is supported upon a bar, rod or othersupporting means l3, the length of the arms being such that they preventpassage of the supporting member even though the hook and hanger berotated about the supporting member I3.

The hook locking means or member I6 is held in its operative position,as shown in Fig. 1, by a suitable means which prevents accidentaldisplacement of the member from that position unless an appreciableforce be applied in a direction for producing rotation of the memberabout its pivot. This retention means may be provided by a variety ofdifferent expedients as, for example, by friction between the member andhook due to a relative tight securing of the rivet or other fasteningmember ll. Preferably, however, relatively free rotation is provided atthe pivot and a separate detent mean is provided to effect the properretention of the member Hi. In the preferred form this detent iseffected by providing an opening or recess 2| in the upper portion ofthe hook adjacent the path of movement of the outer. ends of the arms ofmember l6. Each of the arms of the member I6 is then provided with aprotuberance, such as 22, which protuberances are adapted tosequentially engage within the opening or recess 2|, as shown in Fig. 2,and thereby prevent rotation of the member l6 until an appreciable forceis applied thereto. The protuberances 22 may be provided by anyconventional means as, for example, by dimpling or drawing the materialof the arms of the member |6 if the latter be formed of metal or bymolding or casting if the member l6 be formed of plastic.

The construction of the improved locking means I6 is such that it isalways properly positioned for use in effecting a locking action withrespect to a. supporting member whether the hook be then disposed on asupporting member or be removed therefrom. Thus, in the position shownin Fig. 1, the hook is resting upon a supporting member or bar l3 withthe result that the arm I8 has been moved to substantial alignment withthe portion |5 of the hook so that the protuberance 22 on that arm is inengagement with the recess or opening 2| of the hook. Consequently.

the arm I9 is located so as to extend transversely of the opening I4 tothe hook and, therefore, the hanger cannot be displaced from thesupporting member l3 by a chance engagement therewith.

The hook II and its garment hanger It] may be removed from thesupporting member by moving the hook transversely relative to thesupporting member l3 in a manner such that the latter engages thedepending arm [9 of the locking member l6, sufficient force beingexerted on the hanger to displace the protuberance 22 from the opening2| and cause rotation of the member IS in a clockwise direction asviewed in the drawing. It will be understood that the locking member 6has sufiicient inherent resiliency to provide the necessary flexing topermit the protuberances 22 to snap into and out of the opening 2| inthe manner described.

When the garment hanger is to be again placed upon a. supporting member,it need only be presented to that member in the conventional mannersince this causes the latter to engage one of the arms of the lockingmember l6 and rotate the said locking member in a counter-clockwise Itwill be observed that the locking member l6 may be rotated one or morecomplete revolutions in either direction. Consequently, if the garmenthanger should be removed from its supporting member and the member l6rotated an amount in addition to that necessary to effect such removal,this will not affect the ease with which the hook of the garment hangermay be again placed upon a supporting member. This is due to the factthat the member It has three or more equally spaced arms so that it isonly necessary to engage that arm of the member l6 which is adjacent thehook opening M with the supporting member l3 on which the hanger is tobe placed to effect operation of the locking means as just described. Itwill be evident, therefore, that the hook locking means I6 is alwaysproperly positioned for operation. Moreover, such operation is efiectedby simply engaging the hook with,

the supporting member in the usual manner and does not require specialpositioning or manipulation.

The improved hook locking means may be embodied in hook structures otherthan that shown in Figs. 1 to 3. For example, the improved locking meansmay be employed with a hook member formed of wire. Thus, as shown inFig. 4, a garment supporting member 23 is provided with the hook member24 formed by bending a single piece of wire to a substantially hookshape so that there are two portions 25 and 26 adjacent each other anddisposed in substantially the same vertical plane. Adjacent the free orouter end of the hook the two wire portions 25 and 26 are spacedsufficiently to provide a central opening in which is received thepivotpin or rivet 27 for a hook-locking member 28. The member 28 isconstructed in the same manner as described in conjunction with Figs. 1to 3 and has a plurality of arms equally spaced from each other witheach wetness:

prov ded-l, a jacen tsfi outerand. with: at prev tuberance; 2.9;. Thenretuberances; 23; are seeq lr' re ivablewithin; arr pe ina provided;inthe; upper portion, of, the: hOQKL 211; by bendin ne n bo f; he; prtions-, 2 a 26:. As, show-1.1;. o h portions 245s and. have: een; bent,in: the: i n, ad acent, therpathz o the. protuberances. 95 t Emvide ooprating: semie ircular onsets; lle ica ed 3:9;- nd. 3:4 in; s-.,, 4,.The; operation of; his form; v hook andrlocking, means; is the same-315; has been. previo lr escr b d nd; henceneedL not-be repeated.

l es and1 ill strateastill difi-erent:embodiie Inentv of; the; inventionas: app ied: to. a: arment: hanser and intthisrorm: thegar-mentsupnortins:

memb r: 5- 5 pr vided; with athook 3.3;:formedl from; a-,l0op,-o f;wirewith; asubstantiallyu,-shaped;, bend. at; the outer or' ee: end; sotha he. heels has two; adjacent portions; of: the, wire in side: it-siderelationsh p as. will: be. pp ent from g; 6. Tnetransv rseorb ehtportionfirl; of: the: u:-shape d; bend. at thev outer end: of the; hook.provides the pivotalsupport for thep ooki'ng-tmemr ber 35; which,preferably constructed in the same manner as the members it and 28.Consequently this. member likewise has a, plurality of equally spaced;arms each provided: adjacent its outer end with a protuberance 36. Theprotuherances 36 each extend outwardly at one side of; the member 35 andare hollow on the, other side and the portions of the wire, forming the;book 33- are'lateraily kinked or, bent; ,as indicated: at- Hand 38inFig: 6; to cooperatewith the combination protuberances and recesses orhollows on the member 35 for retaining the latter against accidentaldisplacement. As in the previous embodiments, the member 35 preventsaccidental displacement of the garment hanger from the supporting memberwith which it is engaged and, when the hanger is removed from thesupporting member, the locking member is at all times properlypositioned for movement to locking engagement with the supporting memberand does not need a special cocking or other manipulation.

For convenience in disclosing the invention, the improved self-lockinghook has been described and illustrated as applied to garment hangers.It will be apparent, however, that the improved hook may be utilized inother environments wherever similar problems are encountered. Moreover,while the locking member has been shown as having three equally spacedarms, it will be apparent that in some instances a greater number ofarms may be employed. Also, it will be apparent that the necessaryretention of the locking member in a position preventing displacement ofthe hook from a supporting member may be effected by means other thanthe cooperating protuberance and recess or opening as disclosed herein.These and other modifications will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art to which this invention pertains and, consequently, areconsidered as encompassed within the ambit of the invention which islimited only by the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A hook having in combination therewith a turnstile-type memberrotatably supported on the free end thereof in a manner permitting acomplete revolution of said member and with the distance between thearms of said member being such that one arm extends transversely of theopening of said hook whenever another arm 6; therenfi is disposed adjaent tmamhsubstantiailn aligned with the,unnerportion;.Qtthehooklwherea.

by: presentation; ofsaid: hook: to; a supportin membencauses thelatter-tn engage an armzofi said: turnstile member: at the entrance ofsaidahook; andeffect partialirotation: of; the turnstile; mem

ber: until; thfii outer end or; the engagfldi arm; substantially:aligned with; the upper portion; of: said; hookwhenlthe; lattencomestolresizuponsai'd": supporting'member whereuponaa succeeding arm; of:said: turnstile; member is disposed; transverselye on the; entrance to,said: hook: so,' that; accidental. displacement; of: the hook: from: thesupporting: member is prevented" 2:. A hook having: in combinationtherewithlat turnstileetypezmemben rotatably:supportedzomthm free endof; the: hookzinr a manner permittingaal complete,- revolution; ofsaidmember' and with; the distance-a between the arms of said? member-'beingsuch. that one arm extends transversely of? the. opening of: said:hook whenever another. arm-i thereof is disposed adjacent toland:substantiate. lyaligned. with: the upper portionof the hook; and!cooperatinglaterally interfitting surfaces: proz-l.

vided upon said hook and each of the arms of saith turnstile. memberpreventing rotation of said member: untilza positiveiorce isappliedthereto; whereby presentation of: said hook: to: a. support, ing membercauses the latter to engage-amarml of said turnstile-member. atLtheentrance of said hook and effect partial'i rotation. of the turnstilemember until the outerendi of:- theengaged: arm substantially aligned?with. the upper portion: or said hook when the t-latter comes to restupon= said supporting member whereupon a succeeding arm of saidturnstile member is disposed transversely of the entrance to said hookso that accidental displacement of the hook from the supporting memberis prevented.

3. A hook as defined in claim 2 and wherein the said interfittingsurfaces comprise a recess on the upper portion of the hook and acooperating protuberance on each arm of said turnstile ,member.

4. A self-locking hook comprising a first member having a hook-shapedportion, a multi-arm laterally resilient member centrally pivoted tosaid first member on the free end of the hookedshaped portion thereof ina manner permitting free revolution of said first member in eitherdirection adjacent to and parallel with the hookshaped portion of thefirst member, the distance between the arms of said multi-arm memberbeing equal and such that one arm extends transversely of the opening ofsaid hook-shaped portion of the first member Whenever another arm isdisposed substantially in alignment with the upper portion of thehook-shaped portion, and laterally interengaging surfaces on saidmembers preventing rotation of said multi-arm member until a positiveforce is applied thereto, whereby engagement of the hook-shaped portionof the first member with a supporting member causes the arm of saidmulti-arm member at the entrance of said hook-shaped portion to rotateuntil it is substantially aligned with the upper portion of saidhook-shaped portion when the latter is resting upon said supportingmember thereby bringing a succeeding arm of said multi-arm member to aposition where it extends transversely of the entrance to saidhook-shaped portion so that accidental displacement of the hook from thesupporting member is prevented.

5. A self-locking hook as defined in claim 4 and wherein the saidinterengaging surfaces comprise an opening in the first member adjacentthe path of rotation of the arms of said multiarm member, and a lateralprotuberance on each of the arms of the latter member positioned forsequential entrance into said opening.

6. A self-locking hook comprising a length of wire having two parallelportions bent to form a hook, a multi-arm member centrally pivoted tosaid hook on the outer end thereof in armanner permitting freerevolution of said member in either direction and with the distancebetween the arms of said member being such that one arm extendstransversely of the opening of said hook whenever another arm thereof isdisposed substantially in alignment with the upper portion of the hook,each arm of said member having a portion adjacent the outer end thereofshaped to be engaged with a transversely deflected portion of the wirecomprising the upper portion of said hook to prevent rotation of saidmember until a positive force is applied thereto, whereby an arm of saidmember is always retained at the entrance of said hook preventinginadvertent displacement of the hook from a uspporting member.

7. A self-locking hook as defined in claim 6 wherein the wire formingsaid hook is bent adjacent the outer end thereof to provide asubstantially central opening in Which is disposed a pivot member forsaid multi-arm member.

8. A self-locking hook as defined in claim 6 wherein the wire comprisingsaid hook is bent at the outer end of the latter to provide atransversely extending portion on which the said multiarm member isrotatably mounted for movement of the arms of the latter between the twoparallel portions of the wire comprising the hook.

9. In a garment hanger, a hook for suspending the hanger from a support,a multi-arm member centrally pivoted to said hook at the free endthereof in a manner permitting complete revolution of the member ineither direction adjacent to and parallel with said hook, the distancebetween the arms of said member being such that one arm extendstransversely of the opening of said hook whenever the outer end portionof another arm thereof is substantially in alignment with the upperportion of the hook, and laterally interengaging surfaces on said hookand each arm of said member to retain an arm of said member with itsouter end portion in substantial alignment with the upper portion ofsaid hook until a rotating force is applied to said member, whereby thesaid member is efiective at all times to permit placing the hanger upona support and a supported hanger is prevented from accidentaldisplacement from its support.

MALCOLM ROBERTS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 546,226 Cook Sept. 10, 1895 1,193,536 Gerstner et a1 Aug. 8,1916 1,485,630 Seward Mar. 4, 1924 2,164,941 Rentchler July 4, 1939

